Ron, before we can recommend a camera, you need to give us an idea of what you will be using it for and how much you know about photography (or are willing to learn). A dSLR can be a great tool for taking photos, but you need to be willing to learn at least the basics of creating a proper exposure in order to get your money's worth out of one.

Also, be forewarned that once you go down the road of a dSLR, you will probably end up spending more money on additional lenses and other accessories (external flash, filters, tripod, etc.) in order to get the most out of your camera. So, do not just look at the camera with it's kit lens, but the entire camera system, as each manufacturer's lenses and accessories are not interchangeable with others -- i.e. you cannot use Canon lenses with a Nikon camera.

Do you use your current Powershot G6 in "auto" mode, or do you set the exposure through either "manual", "aperture priority" or "shutter priority" modes? If you only plan on using the camera in "auto" mode, you are probably better off just upgrading to the latest Powershot model.

I've a cousin, she and her husband have spent enough on cameras since they were married a few years ago to pay for a BMW. Couldn't take a photo to save their lives. Don't know a thing about it, aren't interested in learning. I guess they just like to play photographer.

If you want to take snapshots get a good snapshot camera and don't waste your money IMO.

"Because he's the hero that Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now... and so we'll hunt him... because he can take it... because he's not a hero... he's a silent guardian, a watchful protector... a DARK KNIGHT."

I have to agree with Zack. If all you plan on doing is putting the camera in "auto" mode and taking snapshots, I think you will end up disappointed. A good point & shoot camera like the Canon Powershot G11 would probably be a better path to take, as it is less expensive and should work just as good in "auto" mode as any dSLR.

A dSLR is a tool that requires some understanding of photography in order to get the best results. Buying one for taking snapshots would be akin to buying an expensive race car with an automatic transmission to drive to the corner store -- sure, it will get the job done, but it's overkill for the task at hand.

If you spend some time learning the basics of photography, though, a dSLR can allow you to take photos under conditions that are not possible with the point & shoot camera. Indoor lowlight shots without flash, shots of high speed action, and closeup quality wildlife shots are just a few examples of photos that really require a dSLR and some basic photography skills.

Regarding the lenses you listed above, they are two completely different types of lenses for different tasks. The 70-300mm IS is a telephoto lens that you would use for wildlife and possibly outdoor sports (if the light was good). It is not a general purpose lens. I used to own that lens until upgrading a few years ago, and it's decent for the money as long as it is used within its limitations (really high quality telephoto lenses can be very expensive). The 15-85mm IS would be a more general "walkaround" lens that would be an upgrade over the Canon kit lens -- but the newer Canon kit lens is actually not a poor first lens for a beginner. The photographer -- not the equipment -- would be the weakest link to begin with.

Canon's Rebel line is an excellent dSLR starting point for a beginner who is interested in learning photography. Just do not expect the camera to take great photos all by itself. A great photographer can take exceptional photos with almost any equipment, and a bad photographer will take bad photos even with the most expensive gear.

Supporter

The SLR digital IMHO will still outperform a point and shoot digital camera! I feel the sensors in the more exspenisive cameras are going to be better and one of the primary differences will be the quality of the lense on the SLR camera vs the point & shoot. Even in auto mode on the SLR you should get very good quality shots. Keep in mind that there are other issues that will effect how your pictures come out. And if you learn about picture composition and a little about lighting and read up on the things to avoid, you should still get better pictures. You could end up with even better pictures if you learn how to use the manual settings on the camera. But if you get the camera you can always start with it on auto and learn how to use it in manual later on. The point is that the SLR will still be superior to your point & shoot digital.

I own a Canon Powershot A590 and it takes decent pictures and it actually has the capability of changing to two other lenses as long as you get the adaptor. My sister owns a SLR Nikon, the model escapes me right now but the pictures she gets is a really nice step up from what I can get with my A590. Optics mean alot in cameras and it is one of the reasons why most point and shoots can blow away cell phone cameras. So if you are looking to get nicer photographs I would go for the digital SLR camera. I honestly think that you can not go wrong with a Canon or Nikon! I am sure you can get really nice pictures from a Olympus or Pentax but look at the Nikon camera's. But by all means if you like what you see with the Canon SLR's I would pull the trigger.

Good Luck

A great photographer can take exceptional photos with almost any equipment, and a bad photographer will take bad photos even with the most expensive gear.

How much crap are you willing to carry with you to get good photos? I went dSLR last year, but I still use a Canon A650 for the quick snapshot type of shots if I don't want to be weighted down by a lot of photo gear, and that A650 can be carried on my hip in a belt bag with little fuss. But if I'm in a target-rich environment, I don't mind carrying a dSLR, I just feel sort of silly carrying a dSLR for a handful of shots over the course of a day.

Also, it's not about the 18 megapixels resolution as some lenses don't even allow you to make use of that extra resolution (also, 10-12 megapixel is fine unless you plan on printing out large prints), but how you use the capability of a camera body (higher useful ISO settings allow for shooting in lower light conditions at a fast enough shutter speed to avoid motion blur), coupled with the right lens to get the shot you want to get in tough shooting conditions. Lens swapping is the bane of a dSLR photographer's existence, and I try not to do a lot of swapping, but rather try to plan out my itenarary if I need wide-angle or telephoto lens for specific locations if I'm shooting photos.

To replace the kit lens that came with my Canon XSi, I paid more than what I paid for the camera body/kit lens and a telephoto lens combined because I wanted a walk-around lens that would be "fast" enough (wider constant aperture than my kit lens) in low light conditions to get the shot. That's the progression of getting into the dSLR world. And frankly, that new lens I recently bought is really heavy around the neck to be lugging around all day, so it's trade-off of photo quality over convenience.

I try not to shoot in Auto mode, don't even like Tv or Av mode either, so I end up in manual mode and just going by trial-n-error and my gut. There are a lot of variables to deal with if you're scrambling to get the shot, but if you have time to think it through, and set up the shot, a dSLR is the way to go. But for the spontaneous stuff, the point-n-shoot digital cameras are good enough if you just need the shot, even if the quality is 'lacking" a bit, but at least you got the shot, rather than a blurry under or over exposed shot with a dSLR that wasn't set up properly for an impromptu photo-op.

The Canon G11 with the flip-out LCD screen is a good alternative for a solid point-n-shoot, and the flip-out LCD is very useful at times.

I'd add to that: Are you REALLY willing to carry all that crap around and not willing to learn even the basics of photography? If the answer is no then get a P&S.

The WHOLE POINT to a DSLR is that YOU are in control not the camera. You can choose to let the camera do some or all of the thinking for you, but the more you let it choose the less you get to bitch about it when it makes dumb choices.

Photography is a journey not a 1 stop destination that ends when you buy a box, put a battery in it and click a button.

If you arent willing to at least read something like this, stop right here, do not pass go, do not waste $900+ and stick to the P&S:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=414088

And not just read it, but go through it all and FULLY understand it so that it becomes a part of how you think and see.

Yes kit lenses suck for the most part (tho the Nikon 18-200VR is AWESOME. If you can spring for a $650 kit lens that is more than most people ever need)

But you know what is GREAT about kit lenses? If you get home and use the camera a couple times and you toss it in a closet and never use it you arent out that much. If you get home and get so excited about what you are doing and how much even betterer you could be doing things then it was a spark!

Also, it's not about the 18 megapixels resolution as some lenses don't even allow you to make use of that extra resolution (also, 10-12 megapixel is fine unless you plan on printing out large prints)

Click to expand...

I'll take that one step further. More Megapixels is DUMB. 12 is plenty. I've got poster sized prints with my D300 and you can't see individual pixels. More pixels = harder processing, more storage and more frustrated new users.

The Canon G11 with the flip-out LCD screen is a good alternative for a solid point-n-shoot, and the flip-out LCD is very useful at times.

Click to expand...

Word. If you want to go out and let the camera make all the decisions for you and live life on the Auto modes, the G11 is what you want. Or the Sony NEX5 or a Panasonic GH1, those combine the best of DSLRS with the lighter weight of a digicam and brilliant auto modes.

I say all the above to not turn you off on a DSLR but to make you understand what you are getting yourself into. And don't forget capture is only the first step. You still need to consider storage, backup, editing and print. =)

If you want to take a lunch and try out my D5000 and D300 and go over the basics it would be my pleasure Ron.

Originally Posted by Patrick Sun It's just that we want you to understand what you are getting into before you spend a lot of money on a camera that may not be suited for you. However, if you are interested in developing your photography skills, then a dSLR is a wonderful tool.

I grew up shooting film, and have only owned a single point & shoot digital camera. I quickly became frustrated on its limitations, so moved to a dSLR once the equipment became affordable. The final nail in the point & shoot's coffin for me came during a trip to Hawaii when I found it impossible to get any photos while whale watching. By the time the camera was triggered after pressing the shutter button, the whale had finished surfacing every time. During our previous trip when I was shooting film, this was never a problem.

Now I have a camera that allows me to capture up to a dozen frames every time a whale surfaces. However, the camera cannot be used in "auto" mode to accomplish this feat -- I need to understand the camera's settings to go about capturing the action properly.

I think most of what you need to know has already been covered. If you're going to treat a dSLR like a point and shoot then it's better to get a point and shoot. Something that can fit in your pocket and is with you all the time is much better than having a dSLR that you decide to leave home because it's too big to carry that day.

FWIW, I have a Canon 50D with a 17-50 f/2.8 lens, It's considered a very good combo by many on POTN. When it's in auto mode it's a glorified point and shoot and photos are unimpressive to my eye. In Tv, Av or manual, where I can control what the camera does, is when it shines.

One last thing, give me a 1D with a 24-70 f2.8L and a Pro an entry Rebel with the kit lens and he's gonna kick my ass. The person makes the image, not the tool.

I have owned several p & s cameras and took the plunge into DSLR a year and a half ago. Scott mentioned the Canon Rebel, and I would like to second that recommendation. It will give you more flexibility than a p & s camera, and will give you great shots. I like the ability to change lenses on my DSLR and to use the viewfinder to take photos. The down size is that you lose the convenience of sticking a camera in your pocket like you can with many p & s cameras.

If you want to become more serious about photography without a huge investment, I highly recommend the Canon Rebel SX. You can usually find it for around $500. I would also recommend purchasing it from B & H Photo in New York City. They are very reliable and reputable. They also ship a lot of their stuff Free.

Lawn Ranger Motto: You're only young once, but you can be always be immature.

Here is a link to B & H photo for the Canon G11. It is one of the best in the p & s category. This camera will also shoot in RAW format, which is very nice for doing post-production work on your photos in Adobe Elements. Please let us know what you purchase and how you like it.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/643177-REG/Canon_3632B001.html

Lawn Ranger Motto: You're only young once, but you can be always be immature.

The Canon Powershot G11 sounds like a good choice for your situation, Ron. You are already familiar with how it operates, since you have the older G6 model. I've considered purchasing one myself for those situations where a point & shoot would suffice and I do not want to lug around my dSLR (but so far I've just used my wife's Canon Elph in those few spots). I previously owned the even older G3, which my dad still uses.

I will also second Marty's endorsement of B&H Photo. They are a very reliable online dealer, and if you are in New York City, their store is supposed to be incredible. I have purchased most of my camera gear from them. Other reliable online camera dealers I have used include Adorama and one of your forum sponsors -- Amazon.

I'll third the recommendation for B+H Photo. I buy most of my gear from them.

Make sure you check out the shutter lag numbers on any P+S you're looking at. I suspect anything in the price range you're considering will be very good. As others have said, don't get sucked into the MP race. 10-12MP is more than enough.

Reviewer

I had the G11 and I confirm the shutter lag. Since one of the primary reasons I bought it was to be able to use it at concerts (since there is usually a ban on "professional" cameras), I didn't find that acceptable. But then I haven't found another solution either and have lately been bringing my DSLR when I can.

The image quality is very good and at high ISO pretty good. I think you will find an improvement in the image quality in the ISO 800 and range and above. But...with the camera having things like RAW and image stabilization, I found my expectations were set higher than they normally would be for a point and shoot, so it just wasn't good enough when I have the option of an SLR to use. Ymmv, particularly if your purposes aren't within the fairly narrow requirements of a concert camera.

Moderator

Shutter lag is the specific reason why I will not ever use a digicam. I am very interested in testing out an EVIL cam to see if they can provide 90% of the benefits of a DSLR while coming close to the size of a digican without any of the associated shutterlag. Early reports look good on that front but each entry suffers from having the first generation of ui not-fullly-baked issues. Hopefully Canon or Nikon will get into that space soon.

Canon G11 launched September 2009.

Canon G10 launched September 2008

G9 Septemberish 2007

I think you see where this is heading.... All roads lead to www.photoplusexpo.com 2010

New cameras are pretty consistently being announced and launched en mass between august and october these days with minor batches also hitting in the spring. If it were me I'd stick with the G6 until then and then see what looks more interesting, a g11 replacement, an EViL cam or even a small DSLR.